Derek D'Antuono
8th grade general science / 9th grade physics first
Observations:
I found that in both classes my cp's ask questions but the approach is much different. In the ninth grade class the questions that my cp, Mr. Swan, asks are more looking for direct answers to a problem. Mrs. Medieros, my eighth grade cp, uses questions to guide the class through discussions. She uses the Socratic method quite often, using open ended questions that require the students to think. In the eighth grade class the students have a scientist notebook where they must write a focus question before doing an experiment. They must then make a hypothesis. After they have done the experiment they must do a claims and evidence part. There is a "I claim" column and a "Evidence" column. They put a claim in one side then the evidence from the experiment in the other. As for the ninth grade class I would say that I have yet to see them have any really exploration or inquiry based work. They are mostly asked to shoot back information that they were given. I have seen some work they did with a pendulum experiment but have not witnessed any first hand. Mr. Swan doesn't really use questions much while lecturing but when working one on one with students uses questions to try and bring out the knowledge he lectured about. Both teachers use different questions depending on the ability of the class. It is quite evident in Mrs. Medieros's classes because one period has many kids with IEP's and they need a little more time to process. All the classes come to the same point but in the lower level class she may have to help the students put ideas together and give them more direct questions.
Reflections:
I will definitely use questions in my classroom I feel like its so important for students to figure things out for themselves. Working to figure out problems is part of science. Questions can help to recall prior knowledge and build a base but can also help build confidence. In a classroom where students dictate the speed and answer questions often it will help to make them more confident in their answers. They also put everything in their own words and ways that they can understand. The students seem to become disconnected in a classroom where the teacher does all the talking. This also helps the students to see that the teacher is not the center of the classroom but rather they are. A huge step to having a classroom that feels safe is having students that feel like you respect their views.
8th grade general science / 9th grade physics first
Observations:
I found that in both classes my cp's ask questions but the approach is much different. In the ninth grade class the questions that my cp, Mr. Swan, asks are more looking for direct answers to a problem. Mrs. Medieros, my eighth grade cp, uses questions to guide the class through discussions. She uses the Socratic method quite often, using open ended questions that require the students to think. In the eighth grade class the students have a scientist notebook where they must write a focus question before doing an experiment. They must then make a hypothesis. After they have done the experiment they must do a claims and evidence part. There is a "I claim" column and a "Evidence" column. They put a claim in one side then the evidence from the experiment in the other. As for the ninth grade class I would say that I have yet to see them have any really exploration or inquiry based work. They are mostly asked to shoot back information that they were given. I have seen some work they did with a pendulum experiment but have not witnessed any first hand. Mr. Swan doesn't really use questions much while lecturing but when working one on one with students uses questions to try and bring out the knowledge he lectured about. Both teachers use different questions depending on the ability of the class. It is quite evident in Mrs. Medieros's classes because one period has many kids with IEP's and they need a little more time to process. All the classes come to the same point but in the lower level class she may have to help the students put ideas together and give them more direct questions.
Reflections:
I will definitely use questions in my classroom I feel like its so important for students to figure things out for themselves. Working to figure out problems is part of science. Questions can help to recall prior knowledge and build a base but can also help build confidence. In a classroom where students dictate the speed and answer questions often it will help to make them more confident in their answers. They also put everything in their own words and ways that they can understand. The students seem to become disconnected in a classroom where the teacher does all the talking. This also helps the students to see that the teacher is not the center of the classroom but rather they are. A huge step to having a classroom that feels safe is having students that feel like you respect their views.